Method and apparatus for enhanced delivery of treatment device to the intervertebral disc annulus
The present invention provides methods and devices for enhancing the delivery of treatment devices for treating the annulus of an intervertebral disc. The methods and devices may employ delivery support elements to delivery tools used to deliver expandable treatment devices to the intervertebral disc. Fixation devices and methods are also disclosed, which may help to secure the treatment device in place.
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This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/120,750 filed May 3, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,615,076 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/352,981 filed Jan. 29, 2003 and a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/327,106 filed Dec. 24, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,970 each of which are continuations-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/133,339 filed Apr. 29, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,052,516 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/947,078, filed Sep. 5, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,592,625, issued Jul. 15, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/484,706, filed Jan. 18, 2000, now abandoned which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/160,710, filed Oct. 20, 1999. This application also claims, through U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/133,339, the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/309,105, filed Jul. 31, 2001. This application is also related to, and claims the benefit of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/075,615, filed on Feb. 15, 2002. All are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention generally relates to methods and devices for the closure, sealing, repair, augmentation, reconstruction or otherwise treatment of an intervertebral disc annulus, and accompanying delivery devices and tools, and their methods of use. The repair can be of an aperture in the disc wall, or a weakened or thin portion. The term “aperture” refers to a hole in the annulus that is a result of a surgical incision or dissection into the intervertebral disc annulus, or the consequence of a naturally occurring tear (rent). The invention generally relates to surgical devices and methods for the treatment of intervertebral disc wall repair or reconstruction. The invention further relates to an annular repair device, or stent, for annular disc repair. These implants can be of natural or synthetic materials. The effects of said reconstruction is restoration of disc wall integrity, which may reduce the failure rate (3-21%) of a common surgical procedure (disc fragment removal or discectomy), or advantageously provide a barrier to intradiscal material migration. In particular, the invention further relates to an enhanced delivery method and device for the delivery of a patch, mesh, barrier, scaffold, or other implant to treat an intervertebral disc.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe spinal column is formed from a number of bony vertebrae, which in their normal state are separated from each other by intervertebral discs. These discs are comprised of the annulus fibrosus, and the nucleus pulposus, both of which are soft tissue. The intervertebral disc acts in the spine as a crucial stabilizer, and as a mechanism for force distribution between adjacent vertebral bodies. Without a competent disc, collapse of the intervertebral disc may occur, contributing to abnormal joint mechanics and premature development of degenerative and/or arthritic changes.
The normal intervertebral disc has an outer ligamentous ring called the annulus surrounding the nucleus pulposus. The annulus binds the adjacent vertebrae together and is constituted of collagen fibers that are attached to the vertebrae and cross each other so that half of the individual fibers will tighten as the vertebrae are rotated in either direction, thus resisting twisting or torsional motion. The nucleus pulposus is constituted of soft tissue, having about 85% water content, which moves about during bending from front to back and from side to side.
The aging process contributes to gradual changes in the intervertebral discs. The annulus loses much of its flexibility and resilience, becoming more dense and solid in composition. The aging annulus may also be marked by the appearance or propagation of cracks or fissures in the annular wall. Similarly, the nucleus desiccates, increasing viscosity and thus losing its fluidity. In combination, these features of the aged intervertebral discs result in less dynamic stress distribution because of the more viscous nucleus pulposus, and less ability to withstand localized stresses by the annulus fibrosus due to its desiccation, loss of flexibility and the presence of fissures. Fissures can also occur due to disease or other pathological conditions. Occasionally fissures may form rents through the annular wall. In these instances, the nucleus pulposus is urged outwardly from the subannular space through a rent, often into the spinal column. Extruded nucleus pulposus can, and often does, mechanically press on the spinal cord or spinal nerve rootlet. This painful condition is clinically referred to as a ruptured or herniated disc.
In the event of annulus rupture, the subannular nucleus pulposus migrates along the path of least resistance forcing the fissure to open further, allowing migration of the nucleus pulposus through the wall of the disc, with resultant nerve compression and leakage of chemicals of inflammation into the space around the adjacent nerve roots supplying the extremities, bladder, bowel and genitalia. The usual effect of nerve compression and inflammation is intolerable back or neck pain, radiating into the extremities, with accompanying numbness, weakness, and in late stages, paralysis and muscle atrophy, and/or bladder and bowel incontinence. Additionally, injury, disease or other degenerative disorders may cause one or more of the intervertebral discs to shrink, collapse, deteriorate or become displaced, herniated, or otherwise damaged and compromised.
Surgical repairs or replacements of displaced or herniated discs are attempted approximately 390,000 times in the USA each year. Historically, there has been no known way to repair or reconstruct the annulus. Instead, surgical procedures to date are designed to relieve symptoms by removing unwanted disc fragments and relieving nerve compression. While results are currently acceptable, they are not optimal. Various authors report 3.1-21% recurrent disc herniation, representing a failure of the primary procedure and requiring re-operation for the same condition. An estimated 10% recurrence rate results in 39,000 re-operations in the United States each year.
Some have also suggested that the repair of a damaged intervertebral disc might include the augmentation of the nucleus pulposus, and various efforts at nucleus pulposus replacement have been reported. The present invention is directed at the repair of the annulus, whether or not a nuclear augmentation is also warranted.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present inventions provide methods and devices related to enhancing the delivery of devices for reconstruction of the disc wall in cases of displaced, herniated, thinned, ruptured, or otherwise damaged or infirmed intervertebral discs. In accordance with the invention, an enhanced device and method is disclosed for the delivery of devices to treat an intervertebral disc having an aperture, weakened or thin portion in the wall of the annulus fibrosis of the intervertebral disc. Repair, reconstruction, sealing, occluding an aperture, weakened or thin portion in the wall of the annulus may prevent or avoid migration of intradiscal material from the disc space. The method and device of the present invention allows controlled delivery of an expandable device as described in, for example, pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/120,750, filed May 3, 2005. Reference is made to pending applications as listed above for further details about the various treatment devices, their construction and other attributes of their deliveries. This application is to further describe an invention that may be utilized to enhance the delivery of these various implants.
The method and device of the invention includes, in one embodiment, the steps of providing a first delivery tool having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end carrying a treatment device; introducing the distal end of the first delivery tool at least partially into the intervertebral disc space; and deploying said treatment device said treatment delivery tool also comprising means to enhance the controlled opening of the treatment device.
It is also anticipated that the treatment devices and their delivery tools may be used in combination with fixation devices as described in previous pending applications identified above.
The objects and various advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description which follows. In general, the implantable medical treatment devices are placed, positioned, and subsequently affixed in the annulus to reduce re-extrusion of the nucleus or other intradiscal material through an aperture by: establishing a barrier or otherwise closing or partially closing an aperture; and/or helping to restore the natural integrity of the wall of the annulus; and/or promoting healing of the annulus. Increased integrity and faster and/or more thorough healing of the aperture may reduce future recurrence of herniation of the disc nucleus, or intradiscal material, from the intervertebral disc, and the recurrence of resulting radicular or back pain. In addition, it is believed that the repair of the annular tissue could promote enhanced biomechanics and reduce the possibility of intervertebral disc height collapse and segmental instability, thus possibly avoiding recurrent radicular or back pain after a surgical procedure.
Moreover, the repair of an annular aperture (after for example, a discectomy procedure) with the reduction of the re-extrusion of the nucleus may also advantageously reduce adhesion formation surrounding the nerve roots. The nuclear material of the disc is toxic to the nerves and is believed to cause increased inflammation surrounding the nerves, which in turn can cause increased scar formation (adhesions or epidural fibrosis) upon healing. Adhesions created around the nerve roots can cause continued back pain. Any reduction in adhesion formation is believed to reduce future recurrence of pain.
Annular repair devices and methods may create a mechanical barrier to the extrusion of intradiscal material (i.e., nucleus pulposus, or nuclear augmentation materials) from the disc space, add mechanical integrity to the annulus and the tissue surrounding an aperture, weakened, or thin portion of the wall of the annulus, and promote faster and more complete healing of the aperture, weakened or thin portion.
Although much of the discussion is directed toward the repair of the intervertebral disc after a surgical procedure, such as discectomy (a surgical procedure performed to remove herniated fragments of the disc nucleus), it is contemplated that the devices of the present invention may be used in other procedures that involve access (whether induced or naturally occurring) through the annulus of the intervertebral disc, or prophylactic application to the annulus. An example of another procedure that could require a repair technique involves the replacement of the nucleus (nucleus replacement) with an implantable nucleus material to replace the functioning of the natural nucleus when it is degenerated. The object of the invention in this case would be similar in that the repair would maintain the replacement nucleus within the disc space.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, treatment delivery devices such as the delivery devices described in
The inventive treatment delivery device can be used with a variety of repair devices to seal, reconstruct and/or repair the intervertebral disc, as described in other pending applications, for example, implant devices found in
Some of the concepts disclosed hereinbelow may advantageously additionally incorporate design elements to reduce the number of steps (and time), and/or simplify the surgical technique, and/or reduce the risk of causing complications during the repair of the intervertebral disc annulus. In addition, the following treatment devices may become incorporated by the surrounding tissues, or to act as a scaffold in the short-term (3-6 months) for tissue incorporation, creating a subannular barrier in and across the aperture by placement of a patch of biocompatible material acting as a bridge or a scaffold, providing a platform for traverse of fibroblasts or other normal cells of repair existing in and around the various layers of the disc annulus.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate illustrative embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Reference will now be made in detail to selected illustrative embodiments of the invention, with occasional reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
As discussed in previous pending applications, it is understood that there can be a variety of device designs of patches/stents/implants/meshes/devices/treatment devices to repair damaged annular tissue and/or otherwise facilitate maintaining other intradiscal materials within the disc space. These devices can be constructed of single components or multiple components, with a variety of different materials, whether synthetic, naturally occurring, recombinated (genetically engineered) to achieve various objectives in the delivery, deployment and fixation of a device to repair or reconstruct the annulus. The following device concepts are further discussed for additional embodiments of a device and/or system for the repair of an intervertebral disc annulus. The following descriptions will illustratively depict and describe methods, devices, and tools to deliver a treatment to an intervertebral disc after a, lumbar discectomy procedure; although, it is anticipated that these methods, devices, and tools may be similarly used in a variety of applications. As an example, the embodiments described herein may also advantageously maintain materials within the disc space other than natural disc tissue (nucleus, annulus, cartilage, etc.), such as implants and materials that may be used to replace and/or augment the nucleus pulposus or other parts of disc's tissues. These procedures may be performed to treat, for example, degenerative disc disease. Whether these materials are intended to replace the natural functioning of the nucleus pulposus (i.e., implantable prosthetics or injectable, in-situ curable polymer protein, or the like) or provide a fusion between vertebral bodies (i.e., implantable bony or synthetic prosthetics with materials to facilitate fusion, such as growth factors like bone morphogenic proteins) one skilled in the art would realize that variations to the embodiments described herein may be employed to better address characteristic differences in the various materials and/or implants that could be placed within the intervertebral disc space, and that these variations would be within the scope of the invention.
Furthermore, it should be noted that surgeons differ in their techniques and methods in performing an intervention on a spinal disc, and the inventive descriptions and depictions of methods, devices and delivery tools to repair annular tissue could be employed with a variety of surgical techniques; such as, but not limited to: open surgical, microsurgical discectomy (using a magnifying scope or loupes), minimally invasive surgical (through, for example, a METRx™ system available from Medtronic, Inc.), and percutaneous access. Surgeons may also employ a variety of techniques for intra-operative assessment and/or visualization of the procedure, which may include: intra-operative probing, radiography (e.g., C-arm, flat plate), and endoscopy. It is contemplated that the inventive embodiments described are not limited by the various techniques that may be employed by the surgeon.
In addition, the surgical approach to the intervertebral disc throughout the figures and descriptions depict a common approach, with related structures, to a lumbar discectomy; although, it is possible that surgeons may prefer alternative approaches to the intervertebral disc for various applications (for example, different intervertebral disc levels such as the cervical or thoracic region, or for nucleus augmentation), which may include, but is not limited to: posterior-lateral, anterior, anterior-lateral, transforaminal, extra-foraminal, extra-pedicular, axial (i.e., through the vertebral bodies), retroperitoneal, trans psoas (through the Psoas muscle), contralateral, and along the spinal foramen. The approach to the intervertebral disc space should not be interpreted to limit the use of the invention for the repair or reconstruction of the an aperture, weakened or thin portion of the annulus, as described herein.
It is also important to note that the boundary in the intervertebral disc space between the annulus fibrosus and the nucleus pulposus as depicted herein may be demarked or otherwise highlighted; however, it is important to recognize that these tissues are not as precisely demarked in human tissues, and may be even less so as the patient ages or evinces degeneration of the intervertebral disc. This demarcation may be especially difficult to discern during an operative procedure, using for example; available surgical tools (i.e., probes), fluoroscopic guidance (x-ray), or visual (endoscope) guidance. However, in general, the layers of the annulus have more structural integrity (and strength) than the nucleus, and this integrity varies from the outer most layers of the annulus being of higher structural integrity than the inner most layers of the annulus.
Moreover, the drawings and descriptions herein are necessarily simplified to depict the operation of the devices and illustrate various steps in the method. In use, the tissues may be manipulated by, and are frequently in contact with, the various tools and devices; however, for clarity of construction and operation, the figures may not show intimate contact between the tissues the tools and the devices.
As depicted in
The are a variety of ways to affix a device to the wall of the annulus in addition to those discussed hereinabove. The following exemplary embodiments are introduced here to provide inventive illustrations of the types of techniques that can be employed to reduce the time and skill required to affix the patch to the annulus, versus suturing and tying a knot.
An exemplary embodiment of the enhanced method and device of a treatment delivery tool is the description of an enhanced delivery of the braided device as depicted in
As shown in
As depicted in
An enhancement to the delivery of the treatment device 600 with mesh delivery tool 500 may include delivery support elements that project from the mesh delivery tool 500 to further enhance the deployment shape and configuration of the treatment device during deployment and “seating” of the device against annular tissue.
Controlled delivery, seating and deployment of the treatment device may also be beneficial in optimally opening the treatment device to accommodate the fixation of the device to annular tissue, with various means as described herein.
Although the previous description describes the deployment of the support elements as being attached to the same actuator as the treatment device, and delivered at the same time as the deployment of the treatment device, it is also possible that separate actuators could be employed to deliver the functioning of the support elements separately from the treatment. For example, support elements may be attached to a separate actuator to actuate the support elements before, during, or after the deployment of the treatment device.
As depicted in
Additionally inventive of the anchor band device (and its delivery and deployment tools) is the unique inter-relationship of the slide body, spring, and the tension delivered to the T-anchor and tissue during deployment. For example, T-anchor assembly can be designed to pass through softer, or otherwise more pliable tissues (e.g., nucleus pulposus, softer annular layers) while resisting, under the same tension, passage through tougher tissues and/or substrates (e.g., outer annular layers, treatment device construct). In further illustrative description, tension delivered to the suture line 310 can be limited by the interface between the slide body member 318 and the suture retention block 414, through spring 316 such that tension is exerted on T-anchor body 316 which may sufficiently allow movement of T-anchor 316 through softer tissue, but alternatively requires a greater force to pull T-anchor body through other materials or substrates such as the treatment device 600 or outer layers of the annulus 202. Spring 316 can be designed to sufficiently draw tissues and/or the patch together, while not overloading suture line 310 when the fixation has been effected. Spring 316 may also be advantageously designed to allow blade assembly 420, upon reaching an appropriate loading to effect the delivery, to sever the suture line 310. As illustrative example, but not intended to be limiting, T-anchor body and suture line may be constructed to require approximately 5 pounds of force to draw the T-anchor assembly through nuclear tissue, but substantially greater load to draw T-anchor through annular tissue and/or patch device. Spring may be designed to exert approximately 5 pounds, sufficiently pulling anchor through nuclear tissue, and in proximity to treatment device, as intended. Once sufficient load has been applied to move T-anchor to engage patch, the loading on the suture line is not allowed to substantially increase. Advantageously, additional loading would cause the final compression of spring between suture retention block and blade assembly to sever suture line. Preferably, the severing and the design of the tether elements are such that the ultimate strength of the suture line is greater than the load required to draw T-anchor through soft tissue, or the like, and less than the load inflicted to cause the severing by blade assembly. The description herein is intended to be illustrative and not limiting, in that other device and delivery tools could be derived to employ the inventive embodiments.
In an alternative embodiment utilizing an enhanced delivery of a treatment device,
Additionally inventive of the treatment device (and its delivery and deployment tools) is the unique inter-relationship of the actuator body, spring, and the holder tube assembly, allowing the device to be deployed while still holding the device firmly during deployment. The use of the actuator rod to stiffen the distal end of the small diameter outer cannula, and the use of a radially compact treatment device offers additional advantages, such as the ability to pass through softer, or otherwise more pliable tissues (e.g., nucleus pulposus, softer annular layers) while resisting columnar bending during navigation. As an illustrative embodiment, a mesh patch as described in
The spring may be designed to exert approximately 5 pounds, sufficient to provide tactile control while preventing inadvertent release of the treatment device. By requiring actuation of the device in a different direction for release (i.e., rotation of the proximal cap) than that required for initial deployment (i.e., proximal translation of the finger grip), each with tactile, auditory or visually perceptible confirmation, safe an affirmative deployment can be achieved.
Exemplary delivery support elements 540 have been characterized previously, for exemplary reasons only, as sutures; although, it is contemplated that the construction of the support elements may take various forms such as rods, beams, bars, wires, bands, tubes or other actuating elements to assist in the deployment, opening, seating or otherwise delivery of a treatment device. For example,
In addition to delivery support elements that are releasably attached to the treatment device 600, and therefore may be removed with the delivery device 500, it is contemplated that some embodiments of the invention may include delivery support elements that may partially, or wholly, remain an integral part of the implanted treatment device. For example,
An additional exemplary embodiment of a support element that may be an integral portion of treatment device can be seen in
Since the surgeon's visualization of during discectomy procedures is typically limited to the epi-annular space and the aperture at the outside surface of the annulus, any tactile, visual or audible signals to assist, or otherwise enhance, the surgeon's ability to reliably deliver and deploy treatment devices may be advantageous. Assisting the delivery with the inventive enhanced delivery embodiments with delivery support elements described herein may allow for increased reliability of delivery and fixation of a treatment device for the repair of annular tissue. Exemplary materials that could be used to construct the various delivery support elements, collars, attachment elements include, but are not limited to: biocompatible polymeric materials (polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyimides and derivatives thereof (e.g., polyetherimide), polyamide and derivatives thereof (e.g., polyphthalamide), polyketones and derivatives thereof (e.g., PEEK, PAEK, PEKK), PET, polycarbonate, acrylic, polyurethane, polycarbonate urethane, acetates and derivatives thereof (e.g., acetal copolymer), polysulfones and derivatives thereof (e.g., polyphenylsulfone), or biocompatible metallic materials (stainless steel, nickel titanium, titanium, cobalt chromium, platinum and its alloys, gold and it alloys), or biodegradeable/bioresorbable materials, or naturally or synthetically derived materials.
All patents referred to or cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent they are not inconsistent with the explicit teachings of this specification, including; U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,438 (Stone), U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,043 (Stone), U.S. Pat. No. 4,904,260 (Ray et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,807 (Gan et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,849,331 (Ducheyne et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,154 (Rhodes), U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,106 (Schepers at al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,888,220 (Felt et al.),U.S. Pat. No. 5,376,120 (Sarver et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,976,186 (Bao et al.).
Various materials know to those skilled in the art can be employed in practicing the present invention. By means of example only, the body portions of the stent could be made of NiTi alloy, plastics including polypropylene and polyethylene, polymethylmethacrylate, stainless steel and other biocompatible metals, chromium cobalt alloy, or collagen. Webbing materials can include silicone, collagen, ePTFE, DACRON, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, and other biocompatible materials and can be woven or non-woven. Membranes might be fashioned of silicone, polypropylene, polyester, SURLYN, PEBAX, polyethylene, polyurethane or other biocompatible materials. Inflation fluids for membranes can include gases, liquids, foams, emulsions, and can be or contain bioactive materials and can also be for mechanical, biochemical and medicinal purposes. The stent body, webbing and/or membrane can be drug eluting or bioabsorbable, as known in the medical implant arts.
Further, any of the devices or delivery tools described herein, or portions thereof, could be rendered visible or more visible via fluoroscopy, if desired, through the incorporation of radiopaque materials or markers. Preferably implantable devices are constructed with MRI compatible materials. In particular, devices and/or their components could be wholly or partially radiopaque, as result of, for example: compounding various radiopaque materials (e.g., barium sulphate) into device materials; affixing radiopaque materials to device structures (e.g., bands of platinum, gold, or their derivative alloys); deposition of radiopaque materials onto device structures (e.g., deposition of platinum, gold of their derivative alloys); processing radiopaque materials into device structures (e.g., braiding/weaving platinum or gold wires or its alloy derivatives). One inventive way to achieve radiopacity of a device described herein, for example treatment device 600, is placing one or more radiopaque marker bands onto filaments of braided device 600 before (or possibly after) creating end potions of the device.
Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.
Claims
1. A method for deploying a therapeutic device to treat intervertebral disc tissue comprising:
- providing a therapeutic device and a longitudinal delivery tool having a proximal end and a distal end, the therapeutic device releasably attached to the distal end of said tool, said tool comprising: at least one proximal actuating member; and at least one delivery support element connected to the therapeutic device in a first, pre-deployment configuration, and adapted to facilitate lateral deployment of the therapeutic device from the longitudinal axis of the delivery tool; said at least one delivery support element movable in the longitudinal direction under tension to facilitate lateral expansion and deployment of the therapeutic device in a second, post-deployment configuration, wherein the therapeutic device is attached to the distal end of the delivery tool in the first, pre-deployment configuration;
- inserting the therapeutic device into the intervertebral disc;
- at least partially actuating the at least one proximal actuating member so that said therapeutic device begins to laterally expand;
- moving said at least one delivery support element in the proximal direction under tension thereby allowing or causing said therapeutic device to further laterally expand relative to the longitudinal axis of the delivery tool so as to be deployed proximate to intervertebral disc tissue;
- deploying said therapeutic device in the second, post-deployment configuration; and
- removing said longitudinal delivery tool.
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of preparing intervertebral disc tissue, wherein said step of preparing comprises:
- identifying a damaged section of tissue; and
- removing the damaged section of tissue.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of inserting the therapeutic device comprises making a surgical incision into intervertebral disc tissue to provide access into intervertebral disc tissue.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one delivery support element comprises a suture line having a first end and a second end.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the first end and the second end of said suture line are attached to the proximal actuating member of said delivery tool.
6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the first end is attached to the proximal actuating member of said delivery tool, and the second end is attached to the proximal end of said delivery tool.
7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the first end is attached to a first proximal actuating member and the second end is attached to a second proximal actuating member.
8. The method according to claim 4, wherein said longitudinal delivery tool further comprises a finger grip assembly, wherein said proximal actuating member abuts said finger grip assembly, and wherein the second end is releasably affixed to a juncture between the proximal actuating member and the finger grip assembly.
9. The method according to claim 4, wherein said suture line extends from said tool through a therapeutic device releasably attached to the distal end of said tool.
10. The method according to claim 4, wherein the second end of said suture line is releasable from said delivery tool.
11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said longitudinal delivery tool comprises two or more delivery support elements.
12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one delivery support element is releasable from said delivery tool.
13. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one delivery support element is constructed from biocompatible polymeric materials, polyamide, polyamide derivatives, polyketones, polyketone derivatives, PET, polycarbonate, acrylic, polyurethane, polycarbonate urethane, acetates, acetate derivatives, polysulfones, polysulfone derivatives, biocompatible metallic materials, biodegradable/bioresorbable materials, naturally derived materials, or synthetically derived materials.
14. The method according to claim 1, wherein said longitudinal delivery tool further comprises at least one delivery support element collar configured to distally hold said at least one delivery support element.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said at least one delivery support element collar is configured to allow said at least one delivery support element to movably pass through said collar.
16. The method according to claim 14, wherein said at least one delivery support element collar is affixed to said delivery tool.
17. The method according to claim 14, wherein said at least one delivery support element collar is movable in the longitudinal direction, wherein said method further comprises moving said at least one delivery support element collar in the longitudinal direction.
18. The method according to claim 14, wherein said at least one delivery support element collar comprises a tube affixed to the shaft of said tool.
19. The method according to claim 14, wherein said at least one delivery support element collar is constructed from a biocompatible material.
20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said biocompatible material is a polymer, a metal, a metallic alloy, a ceramic, a synthetic material, an engineered material, a shape memory material, or a biodegrable/bioresorbable material.
21. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one delivery support element comprises a tether, a rod, beam, wire, band, tube, or actuating element.
22. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one delivery support element comprises a suture line having at least on knot along its length.
23. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one delivery support element is integrated with the therapeutic device.
24. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said at least one delivery support element is exterior to said delivery tool.
25. The method according to claim 1, further comprising releasing said at least one delivery support element from said longitudinal delivery device.
26. A method for deploying a therapeutic device to treat intervertebral disc tissue comprising:
- providing a therapeutic device and a longitudinal delivery tool having a proximal end and a distal end, the therapeutic device releasably attached to the distal end of the delivery tool and including a proximal end, a distal end, and an intermediate portion between the proximal and distal ends, the proximal and distal ends of the therapeutic device having a fixed outer dimension such that they are not laterally expandable, the intermediate portion being laterally expandable, the tool comprising: at least one proximal actuating member; and at least one delivery support element connected to the therapeutic device in a first, pre-deployment configuration, and adapted to facilitate lateral deployment of the intermediate portion of the therapeutic device from the longitudinal axis of the delivery tool; the at least one delivery support element movable in the longitudinal direction under tension to facilitate lateral expansion and deployment of the therapeutic device in a second, post-deployment configuration, wherein the therapeutic device is attached to the distal end of the delivery tool in the first, pre-deployment configuration;
- inserting the therapeutic device into the intervertebral disc;
- at least partially actuating the at least one proximal actuating member to urge the proximal and distal ends of the therapeutic device toward one another so that the intermediate portion of said therapeutic device begins to laterally expand;
- moving the at least one delivery support element in the proximal direction under tension thereby allowing or causing the intermediate portion of the therapeutic device to further laterally expand relative to the longitudinal axis of the delivery tool so as to be deployed proximate to intervertebral disc tissue;
- deploying the therapeutic device in the second, post-deployment configuration; and
- removing the longitudinal delivery tool.
27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the at least one delivery support element comprises a suture line having a first end and a second end.
28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the first end and the second end of the suture line are attached to the proximal actuating member of the delivery tool.
29. The method according to claim 27, wherein the first end is attached to the proximal actuating member of said delivery tool, and the second end is attached to the proximal end of said delivery tool.
30. The method according to claim 27, wherein the first end is attached to a first proximal actuating member and the second end is attached to a second proximal actuating member.
31. The method according to claim 27, wherein the longitudinal delivery tool further comprises a finger grip assembly, wherein the proximal actuating member abuts the finger grip assembly, and wherein the second end is releasably affixed to a juncture between the proximal actuating member and the finger grip assembly.
32. The method according to claim 27, wherein the suture line extends from the delivery tool through a therapeutic device releasably attached to the distal end of the delivery tool.
33. The method according to claim 27, wherein the second end of the suture line is releasable from the delivery tool.
34. The method according to claim 26, wherein the longitudinal delivery tool comprises two or more delivery support elements.
35. The method according to claim 26, wherein the at least one delivery support element is releasable from the delivery tool.
36. The method according to claim 26, wherein the at least one delivery support element is constructed from biocompatible polymeric materials, polyamide, polyamide derivatives, polyketones, polyketone derivatives, PET, polycarbonate, acrylic, polyurethane, polycarbonate urethane, acetates, acetate derivatives, polysulfones, polysulfone derivatives, biocompatible metallic materials, biodegradable/bioresorbable materials, naturally derived materials, or synthetically derived materials.
37. The method according to claim 26, wherein the longitudinal delivery tool further comprises at least one delivery support element collar configured to distally hold the at least one delivery support element.
38. The method according to claim 37, wherein the at least one delivery support element collar is configured to allow the at least one delivery support element to movably pass through said collar.
39. The method according to claim 37, wherein the at least one delivery support element collar is affixed to the delivery tool.
40. The method according to claim 37, wherein the at least one delivery support element collar is movable in the longitudinal direction, wherein the method further comprises moving the at least one delivery support element collar in the longitudinal direction.
41. The method according to claim 37, wherein the at least one delivery support element collar comprises a tube affixed to the shaft of the tool.
42. The method according to claim 37, wherein the at least one delivery support element collar is constructed from a biocompatible material.
43. The method according to claim 42, wherein the biocompatible material is a polymer, a metal, a metallic alloy, a ceramic, a synthetic material, an engineered material, a shape memory material, or a biodegrable/bioresorbable material.
44. The method according to claim 26, wherein the at least one delivery support element comprises a tether, a rod, beam, wire, band, tube, or actuating element.
45. The method according to claim 26, wherein the at least one delivery support element comprises a suture line having at least on knot along its length.
46. The method according to claim 26, wherein the at least one delivery support element is integrated with the therapeutic device.
47. The method according to claim 26, wherein at least a portion of the at least one delivery support element is exterior to the delivery tool.
48. The method according to claim 26, further comprising releasing the at least one delivery support element from the longitudinal delivery device.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Sep 26, 2005
Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
Patent Publication Number: 20070198021
Assignee: Anulex Technologies, Inc. (Minnetonka, MN)
Inventor: Lawrence W. Wales (Maplewood, MN)
Primary Examiner: Eduardo C Robert
Assistant Examiner: Elana B Fisher
Attorney: Faegre & Benson LLP
Application Number: 11/235,764
International Classification: A61F 2/44 (20060101);